Combines R75 revisited let s talk about it

Whilst you are correct that all you have to do is hit the header switch, hitting it and having to constantly MENTAllY correct causes operator fatigue. That is the very reason they invented HHC for bean heads. Now I might be splitting hairs, and it might not make THAT much difference, but I'd just as soon let the machine make the corrections instead of me. longer feeders mean a longer machine overall. They take up more storage space in sheds and are more difficult to haul. Also, longer machines can be a real pain when opening fields up that are fenced in - and we have a lOT of them up here in WI. That is one area where these short Gleaners really shine - we don't miss the walker area sticking out behind us one bit!! Putting these heavy, large heads out there farther in front of the carrying axle leads to lighter rear ends and instability for road travel. Could that be why Deere's top travel speed is considerably less than Gleaner'sIJ And I don't know about yourself, but I very seldom feel the need to lean over to watch feeding into the throat. Usually you can just tell that by how the machine itself is running. Slug sounds means something is not working properly and adjustments need to be made. Once things are set and feeding properly, I don't feel the need to watch my crop feeding smoothly into the throat - there are plenty of other areas that need observing. Tom langan

Hey Big Green, We just had this discussion over on the Cat board and my opinion of the 9600 being a sub-par machine hasn't changed. Nothing personal, but I'm thinking you're definitely not going to find many 9600 fans on the Gleaner board; they're too used to the superior capacity, performance, and durability of the Gleaner to give them up, and are used to eating 9600s for lunch

I think the biggest problem with a long feeder house is in corn planted ON THE CONTOUR. Hard to pick around tight corners the further the row dividers are from the pivot point (inside drive wheel).

I disagree with what you say about the length of the feederhouse not making any difference when following the contours of the ground. I rented a JD 9500 several years ago and when going over terraces or crossing ditches, the operator had to really be awake. I had to move the header a long ways up and down compared to a Gleaner. I could not travel as fast because I had to move the header so far one way then the other. Another problem when using a corn head was going around curves. I would knock a lot more down with those points so far out front. Better have Kelly over at SC let you drive a Gleaner for a day and see if I'm not right.

I strongly disagree with you about the feeederhouse length, Deerebines. my old 300 series flexheads cut shorter than about any combines in my neighborhood and i will put them up against anything. I demo'd a deere 9500 a few years ago and it had a 918 head, but because it fed in so poorly and the fuel filters were plugged, an m2 with a 318 would literally kick its butt out of the field. that cost deere a sale for sure. I could not get the head to feed as evenly as the gleaner precisely because i could not see in front of the header auger like you can on a gleaner. that length looks nice but does not really help as much as their proganda says.i own a lot of deere equipment so I am not a deere hater respectly james

Yes, we have the literature and should be getting a 65 in some day along with a 9690 Massey. No harm in keeping up to date on the latest and greatest. lunch offer still stands but I am not always around. Kelly

Rich, You might be thinking of the l2's and N series that had a slightly shorter feederhouse. The R series has a little bit longer one. Maybe the experts on here can step in with the exact measurements. I run the steering wheel close to me. The only time you have to really look hard is when hooking up headers. Otherwise, you can see how it's feeding without much trouble unless you like running steering tilt out towards the windshield. Kelly

I have yet to see any sensor that can compensate for crossing a terrace or coming into a ditch at 6 mph with a 30' header. To my knowledge none of the sensors out there can read forward and anticipate the "hit". I am not referring to flexheads either. longer feederhouses means more stress on hinge points, weight imbalances, and longer times spent holding the header height button. JMHO Kelly

The later N's and the R's throat were just a couple inches longer. The belt only measures 10" longer on the newer throat. I believe that came about because of throat strength(early N throat struggled with the 12r, heard of a couple stress cracks) and hookup changes. The earlier throat will not take the new head like the late N and R will. Just like I can't hook up to the original N heads with my late throat. Head visability has never a problem on any of my Gleaners.

Rich, I know what you're talking about when you say that the weather and prices can make farming look like a bad deal. I also know that weather and prices can turn quickly and make it all worth while. If you can use that Pete to help you stay even and afloat, when the turn comes there's money to be made here. The guys that got in trouble are the ones who figured they could borrow their way through tough times. The turn came and all they found was a bunch of debt to pay off. Anyways, on the combine: it sounds like you have an offer from Kelly to give you a tour of the beast. Have him take you into the engine compartment and open that processor door. Then be prepared to be disapointed at just how little mechanism it takes to thresh and seperate a crop. An auger and a couple of accelerator rolls are about the only moving parts. Think about what they replace: straw-walkers, straw-walker cranks, bed augers and the right angle gear drives, beaters, and shaker pans are all missing and un-necessary on the silver rotary. I know that I don't miss them one bit. Ed in Montana PS: If Kelly isn't able to give you the tour and you and that Pete ever find your way up here, I'd do it and maybe even buy a steak besides.